Malai or cream, available in every house, is the best moisturiser for extremely dry hands, and its application barely takes time. Here is what you do to make the best of malai.

a) Boil milked when cooled forms a layer of cream on top. Remove and apply this cream in a circular motion all over your hands and wash it away after five minutes. The results are instantaneous: soft and supple hands. If you cannot stand the ‘milky’ smell just add few drops of rose water.

b) Follow the above step but now add some sugar to the malai. Massage this gently all over your hands and wash off after 5 minutes – Viola! You just got yourself a hand exfoliation done.

c) Taking it a notch higher, this time with malai add sugar, a few drops of milk and some powdered oats. Mix all ingredients together and gently apply all over your hands and feet. Massage till it begins to dry and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water and apply a moisturizer. A soothing pack for your hands and feet, this treatment helps you pamper your feet and fight off dry cuticles. You can make your own moisturiser by mixing equal portions of curd, milk or cream and lemon and apply for 20 minutes and wash off.

Oil and Jelly

Castor oil is good not just for your hair or thickening eyebrows. It works wonders on excessively dry feet too. Take a generous amount of castor oil and apply it all over your feet. Castor oil helps tremendously in repairing cracked heels too. But beware! Castor oil is too thick and has a strong odour. It is best to use the oil at night. Wear thick dark coloured socks and sleep it off. If applying during daytime wrap your feet with cling film for deep penetration and sit it off for half an hour to an hour. Follow this for a week and ensure while bathing you rub off the dead skin with a pumice stone.

Petroleum jelly is an excellent pack too for fighting dry cracked feet. Follow the same method of application as you would with castor oil. Ensure you use dark coloured socks to prevent soiling your bed sheet.